Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Austin Distance Challenge?
Organized by Austin Runners Club, the Austin Distance Challenge is a series of local races of increasing distance, spanning 6 months, that challenge local runners from all different levels to see what they’re capable of! Race times are tracked, so for those interested in competing, there are awards at the end of the season! The Austin Distance Challenge has been around for nearly 30 years, and continues to be one of the running community’s greatest traditions.
Does the Distance Challenge registration price include the individual races?
It does not. The registration on this page gets you signed up for the challenge so that you can be tracked in the leaderboard, invited to community runs, and celebrated at our finisher’s party with the near-legendary Distance Challenge Finisher’s jacket. You need to follow the instructions in your registration confirmation email to sign up for the races.
How do I register for all of the races?
Once you register for the Distance Challenge, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to register for the 6 individual races. Each race partner has provided a discount code so that Distance Challenge runners get the best price possible! You don’t need to sign up for all of them at once, so make sure you “Star” the email so you can find it again later.
What is included in my Distance Challenge registration price?
Your registration price includes: Distance Challenge Finisher’s jacket, Distance Challenge commemorative magnets, DC Finisher’s Party (includes food and a drink ticket), exclusive community runs at TacoDeli throughout the series (includes a taco), bag check at the first 4 races, access to a beginner’s training plan, and all the encouragement and support you need!
What does Marathon Kids do?
Marathon Kids is an Austin-based, national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides FREE running programming to elementary schools to get kids moving and inspire them to set big goals and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Austin Runners Club and Marathon Kids merged in 2022, and now proceeds from the Austin Distance Challenge support Marathon Kids.
Why are we fundraising for Marathon Kids?
We’re inviting our local runners to “Dare the Distance for the Kids” this year to help inspire the next generation of runners! We show kids at a young age that running can pave the way for a healthy lifestyle. We know our Austin running community understands this, and we want to offer an easy way for Austin runners to give back to a cause that they can easily get behind.
What is the last date I can register for the Distance Challenge?
You can register up until one week after the Daisy Dash 10K, which means October 27th. You will have to have run both CASA and Daisy at that point to register and be on the leaderboard!
Can I switch from the Half to the Full track?
Yes! You’re able to do that through your RaceRoster account.
Can I switch from the Full to the Half track?
Yes! You’re able to do that through your RaceRoster account.
Is there a virtual option this year?
While you are welcome to run any of the distances on your own if you’re out of town, we will not be offering any distinction in registrations for races. The leaderboard will only reflect runners who have officially completed the races in person. However, virtual runners will still receive the magnets, jacket, and invite to the Finisher’s Party!
Where is the leaderboard?
We’ve switched leaderboard platforms to make it easier for you to navigate and allow us to upload times quicker after each race. We’ll share the link after the first race in the series, CASA Superhero 5K.
What are the Awards categories?
Top three finishers for Male/Female/Non Binary are awarded in each of the following categories:
Overall
Age Groups (10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79)
Will there still be a tent at the finish of every race?
We will have a tent at the first 4 races to facilitate bag check, distribute magnets, and provide a community meeting place. We’ve found that after 3M and Austin folks are ready to head out of there and recover, and High Five Events provides a great bag check service for you to utilize. As a result, we do not currently plan to have a presence at the 3M and Austin finish lines.
